Lexington man is accused of starting Messner Home fire

A Lexington man accused of setting a building on fire on the campus of the Messner Home was indicted Monday.

Ray Richard Giattino, 46, is charged with one count of first-degree arson.

According to court documents, Giattino stuffed a roll of toilet paper into a wall and set it on fire with a lighter May 27. Giattino was a resident at the Messner Home, a group home for troubled adults, on Hill Rise Court.

The Messner home fire was the last and most serious of about six suspicious fires in the Hill Rise Court area in a 12-hour period May 12. Those fires followed a stretch in December and January when there were about 12 arsons.

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